Less is More

We are the most overstimulated humans in the history of humanity.

And we are not taking it seriously enough.

Social media. Notifications. News cycles. TV. Podcasts — yes, even this one. The constant noise is pulling you further and further away from yourself. And healing — real healing — requires you to look within.

Less is more. Space is freedom. Take away to gain.

That's the whole framework. And if you can actually live inside of it — not just intellectually understand it — everything changes.

Why overstimulation is blocking your healing

The more you look outside, the less you look within.

Every time you reach for your phone instead of sitting with yourself, you are choosing noise over knowing. You are choosing distraction over depth. And over time, that choice compounds into a life that looks busy and feels empty.

This isn't about demonizing your phone or going off the grid. It's about personal responsibility. It's about asking yourself: what am I consuming, why am I consuming it, and what am I avoiding by consuming it?

How your spending habits reflect your energy

The way you spend money is a direct mirror of your energetic state.

When I was working at Starbucks making good money for the first time, I was at the outlets every weekend. Buying workwear. Buying things that made me feel successful on the outside. I love fashion — that's real. But there's a line between intentional purchasing and addiction. And I crossed it.

The more I consumed, the cheaper I became. Not just financially — energetically.

Jay-Z said it best: if you can't afford to buy three of something, don't buy one. That's the standard. Because every single thing you own takes up room — not just physical room, but mental and energetic room too.

What clutter is really telling you

Clutter is a lie you're telling yourself about who you are.

When I moved to the city for grad school, I subscribed to every real estate publication I could find. Getting Real Estate Weekly. Cranes. The Real Deal. They piled up in my apartment — unread, organized into stacks of who I thought I was supposed to be.

I couldn't even bring myself to read them. Because deep down, I wasn't that person. I was just performing her.

Your desk, your closet, your bathroom counter — all of it is a mirror. Look at what you're keeping and ask yourself: does this reflect who I actually am, or who I think I should be?

The moment I canceled those subscriptions and threw them out, something shifted. That shift is available to you too.

Why space is where healing actually lives

There was a period in my healing where all I wanted was an empty space and thirty minutes to write in my Desire Map planner. Just me and the page.

And I couldn't get it.

That's how starved we are for space. And that starvation is costing us everything — our clarity, our creativity, our ability to know what we actually want.

When you create space — physical, mental, energetic — you start to hear yourself again. You start to know things. You start to have something to write in the journal you've been staring at blankly for years.

Space isn't laziness. Space is where healing lives.

How to start creating space — practical steps

Healing doesn't require a dramatic overhaul. It starts with one small act of subtraction.

• Audit your phone. How much are you consuming versus listening to yourself?

• Look at your spending. Is it intentional or is it avoidance?

• Declutter one space. One drawer. One shelf. One corner of your desk.

• Create one pocket of space this week. Even fifteen minutes. No phone. No input. Just you.

These aren't glamorous tools. They won't go viral. But they are the foundation. And without the foundation, nothing else holds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does having less stuff make you feel better mentally?

Everything you own takes up energetic and mental space — not just physical. When your environment is cluttered, your mind mirrors that clutter. Removing what no longer reflects who you are creates room for clarity, creativity, and the ability to actually hear yourself think.

How does overstimulation affect healing?

Healing requires turning inward, but overstimulation keeps pulling your attention outward. Every notification, scroll, and piece of content you consume is energy directed away from yourself. Real healing happens in the quiet — and you can't access the quiet if you never create it.

What does clutter have to do with identity?

Clutter often represents an identity you're performing rather than one you actually inhabit. The things you keep — especially things you never use — often belong to a version of yourself you thought you should be. Letting go of them is an act of honesty about who you actually are right now.

How do I start simplifying if I feel overwhelmed?

Start with one thing. One drawer. One subscription. One hour without your phone. The goal isn't a complete overhaul — it's building your tolerance for space. Each small act of subtraction teaches you that less actually feels better, and that momentum compounds.

Is creating space the same as doing nothing?

No. Creating intentional space is one of the most active things you can do for your healing. It requires choosing not to fill the space — which goes against everything our overstimulated culture conditions us to do. Sitting with yourself, without input, is a skill. And like every skill, it gets easier the more you practice it.

This post is based on the full podcast episode. Listen to the complete conversation on How to Heal — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Lindsay Trimarchi is a life coach, speaker, and host of the How to Heal Podcast. She works with high-achieving women ready to stop performing and start living. Find her on Instagram @howtoheal